Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: World Hunger Program

Criterion Ventures worked with the ELCA World Hunger Program to envision a structure which would enhance the Program’s ability to respond to the many opportunities presented by growth.    The World Hunger Program is $20 million dollar comprehensive and sustainable program that uses multiple strategies - relief, development, education and advocacy - to address the root causes of hunger and poverty.

ELCA World Hunger was at a strategic crossroad.  It faced great opportunity, and would continue to grow and do important work without addressing any of its structural challenges.  Criterion managed a process of internal and external stakeholder engagement to elicit aspirations for the future and the structural elements required to achieve them.  The ELCA World Hunger Director and her Advisory team engaged in this work, and moved from it to implement changes which hold the potential to harness the energy and passionate commitment that directs the church toward fighting hunger in the world.  Their move is towards a more open invitation to partners to create new coalitions, to build strategies in and through the church. It represents an emboldened and unified leadership ready to take risks that will maximize the impact of the resources of the church.  And it continues their commitment to participating in God’s work of bringing justice to the world.